The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-01-13
NEWPORT NEWS.
THE GREAT STRIKE OF THE LONG
SHOREMEN.
Over GOO Men Out of Empioyment-hich-
mond Military on the - Oh
the s,rike-GeneraI Wickham FIRM
Scenes, Incidents, Etc, Etc.

ordered to Newport News, left the city at
1895 Yesterday morning. The military
consisted of A company, Captain +. Il.
Spence, q men rank and file; Is Com
panv. Captain II. G.. Jones, AZ men RANK
and file: State Guard (cOlored) Captain
II. A. Paul, "a men rank and file.
The troops were under he command
of Brigadier-General Charles j. Ander-
son. He was accompanied by his full
staff as follows: Major Bidgood, Major
Randolph, Adjutant Derbyslire, Major
Evans, Regimental Surgeon DR.. Charles
Ben Johnston, Assistant Regimental
Surgeon DR.. Charles II. Chalkley, Capt.
:. p. Patterson and Captain Parker Con-
rad. General Wickham was also with
the party on his own private car.
Shortly after starting rationsand anu
milton were served out TO the soldiers.
As it was desired to reach Newport News
about daylight. the train was run at a
speed of about thirteen miles per hour.
T'oano station, 81 miles from Richmond,
was reached at 3:25. Here a train con-
tanning workmen intended to take the
place of the strikers was found waiting
for the military to precede them. After
a tedious run of nearly five hours the
train finally arrived in Newport News at
6:15. The troops were d~isembarked at
once. and the State Guard quartered on
the wharf. Companies a and b were
marched to the bowling alley, about 200
wards from the Hotel Warwick and one
half mile from the wharf. Here fires and
food were furnished for the men.
After a rather slim breakfast at the
Hotel Warwick, The TIMES nan saun'-
cred forth to ascertain as near as possible
what had caused the calling out OF the
troops.
AS well as could be learned the follow
ing are the facts in the case:
There are employed on the Chesapeake
and Ohio wharves at Newport News
about 400 men. The Old Dominion
Steamship Company employs about 200.
The men are divided into three classes:
first, the truckers who handle the goods
on the wharf and receive ten cents per
hour; the s|hip-hands, who receive the
freight aboard ship, and who are paid
fifteen cents per hour: and the s%teyedores
who arrange the freight in the hold OF
the vessel. and receive twenty cents per
hour. For some time past these parties
have each demanded an increase of five
cents per hour, but to no purpose. On
last Thursday the Old Dominion hands
quit work. Thereupon the Chesapeake
and Ohio hands again presented their
demand, expressing their determination
of striking if the increase was not
granted. Their demand not being ac-
coded to, all of the hands on the Chesa-
peake and Ohio wharyeS, 400 in number,
quit work on Monday.
On Tuesday night about 0o'clock some
hundred and fifty Of the strikers made a
rush for the wharf and forced open the
doors. About twenty-five new men, be-
sides the crew, were engaged in loading
the Guyandotte. The strikers drove the
whole crowd aboard the vessel. pulled in
the gang-planks, cast of the hawsers, and
forced the ship to leave for Norfolk.
During the affray a colored man en-
ployed on the ship had both of his legs
severely injured. The men then made Il
rush for a barrel Of whisky shipped 10
some party West. The head Of the bar
rel was knocked out, and the men helped
themselves freely. y reign OF terror
then ~began-hghts, curses, screams, and
wells all combining 10 make night hide
Gus.
About this time the large b~ath-house, a
quarter Of q mile below the wharf, was
discovered 10 be in flames, and was
burned TO the waters edge. An attempt
was also made to SET fire TO the tool
house Of a Mr.. White, who owns a large
quantity of pile-driyers. The building
was full Of snow, and for this reason
failed to burn. 1t was at this time that
the requisition was made on the Gov
ernor for troops.
YESTERDAYS HAPPENINGS.
The State Guard was put on duty at an
early hour at the wharf. No was
allowed 10 come or 90 except on business.
At a later hour Companies a and B were
brought down from the bowling alley and
distributed over all the piers. The State
Guard were put on duty to watch the
water tower, t~restles, etc, on the high
ground in the rear. The strikers stood
and sat around in crowds from two or
three to twenty or more. They took
everything very quietly. offering no re-
sistance or violence OF any character. In
fact they seemed to be governed more b,
curiosity than anything else.
About 1t.45 General Wickham, first
vice-president of the company, appeared
among the men and told them that any
who desired 10 do so, could go to work at
once. All that did not do so would be
paid off last night, and not be allowed
to remain on the property Of the COM
pany after this morning.
at ~ o'clock a large crowd OF strikers,
containing probably about $50 men,
gathered near a small detachment of
Company A, stationed about a mile from
the wharf. They seemed rather disposed to
charge upon the soldiers.
Captain Jones with Company b, went
to the point, and after seeing him drill
his company for n short time, the crowd
took the hint and dispersed.
Newport News Assembly, No. 4756,
Knights Of Labor, Peter Allen tcolored),
Master Workman, held a meeting at -
o'clock to consider General Wickham's
proposition. They decided not 10 20 to
work unless their demands were granted.
At 4 o'clock, when the reporter left,
all was quiet. No danger was antici-
pated, though the soldiers will be
kept on duty for some three or four
nj. ill - ..i.o..I F..